Willoughby Hills: Cameras intended to address speeding issue
Oct. 20—Willoughby Hills City Council recently approved of the police department implementing speed cameras, an additional tool that will be used to combat speeding in the city.
This has been a two and a half year journey that started with former Police Chief Chris Collins looking into this type of program, said Mayor Andy Gardner.
"We have a serious speeding issue in our community," Gardner said. "It is on the interstate and the side roads, and the number one complaint. Deer are a distant second. It's something we've tried to address. We've put signs up and we have four of them that rotate around the city that show people are speeding. The batteries run out before we can replace them because they're working too much."
Gardner recently spoke with a former part-time officer who worked exclusively traffic when she came in.
"She will tell you on a good hour, she can issue four tickets," he said. "That's not enough to change the behavior. ODOT will tell you we have thousands of speeders that go through the interstate that are over 100 and it averages out to something like two an hour that are over 100.
"Far more than that are over 80," he added. "Our average ticket is about 80 miles an hour, so there needs to be something done. It's another tool for our officers and I'm sure that my number one complaint will soon be from residents who receive camera tickets. If that's what it takes to make us safer."
In discussions council has had with current Chief Matthew Naegele and representatives from Jenoptik, a globally operating technology group, studies have shown with this type of program in place, speeding is discouraged, said Councilman Mike Kline.
"There are fewer speeders and tickets given out, so the program does in fact reduce speeding and will protect not only the police force, but residents and other people passing through," Kline said.
As many streets in Willoughby Hills are narrow, hilly and fast, it's almost impossible for officers to make traffic stops, said Councilman Joe Jarmuszkiewicz.
"River Road is an example," he said. "There are cars doing 80 or 90 miles an hour down that road all the time. There's no where to pull a car over. There are bridges on both sides and it's a two-lane road. We're hoping this will stop or at least discourage the speeding, and protect our officers from being hurt on the job."
In the ordinance council signed off on, there is a 90-day out clause, which will give the city an opportunity to try out the speed cameras.
"We can utilize it, see how things go, how things work and I think that can help us if we want to step out of it, and decide it's not the best for our community," said Councilwoman Julie Belich.
"With folks going 60, 80 or 90 miles an hour down our roads, we have to try something," echoed Councilwoman Tanya Taylor Draper. "This is not in stone. We don't have to continue with this is if it's not working or if it's causing our residents any danger, but we have to try something, so that's what we're doing."
Although the speed cameras are not a replacement for officers making traffic stops, it is still an extra tool for them to use in trying to slow down traffic, Councilwoman Vicki Miller said. Officers will be able to ticket multiple cars with the speed cameras rather than just one they're able to catch, she said.
"I go across the road sometimes to walk my dog and there are cars going 60 on a 40 mile an hour road, which makes it dangerous for us all," Miller said.
Gardner made note of a recent high speed accident that took place on I-90 during the council meeting.
"There were serious injuries to it because this car was going so fast the median didn't stop it," he said. "Cars are going faster than the medians designed to stop them. I fully support keeping our officers safe, our residents safe and people who visit safe. We have a problem and I think this gives us the chance to address it."
